Solar ZOTA

Supports allowing large-scale solar on no more than 1% of ag-zoned land with soil protections; says solar and farming can coexist.

Opposes solar farms, citing landfill waste, panel efficiency loss, and recycling problems; prefers rooftop and parking-lot solar and street trees.

Silicon Ranch representative says sheep grazing under panels restores soil health and urges the council to keep large-scale solar in the final ZOTA.

Fifth District artist supports the solar initiative, citing a neighboring farmer whose flock and income tripled grazing Silicon Ranch land; suggested school field trips to the solar farm.

District 3 construction worker supports the original ZOTA; says the sod farm use is more destructive than solar with sheep, and construction careers are not 'temporary jobs.'

Fayette County Farm Bureau president backs the Planning Commission version — no large-scale solar in the rural service area; once farmland is gone, it's gone forever.

First District resident criticizes the Planning Commission's process as favoring paid lobbyists, and urges the council to vote yes on its own solar ZOTA.

Supports the council committee's solar zoning with the 1% cap, calling it a fair balance and a step toward the 2050 carbon-neutral goal.

Speaking for the Bluegrass Climate Action Team and Sierra Club, supports the council version, calling agrivoltaics a proven model and the affected land 'a postage stamp.'

District 11 environmental nonprofit worker calls the council version a win-win with its clear 1% cap and agrivoltaic requirement.

First District farmer warns industrial solar harms soil and lacks recycling plans; asks the council to adopt the Planning Commission recommendation as-is.

Echoes Reva's concerns, calling farmland a literal food-security resource and citing Silicon Ranch's $135 million Georgia settlement over mass grading.

Clark County cattleman living a mile from the site says the Bluegrass is unique and panels there could be obsolete quickly; opposes industrial solar on prime farmland.

Fayette Alliance supporter argues decommissioning plans don't guarantee farmland restoration and worries the 1% cap will creep upward over time.

Director of Apogee Climate and Energy Transitions and chair of the Kentucky Solar Energy Society, says solar and farming aren't mutually exclusive and urges approval.

Fayette Alliance representative asks the council to uphold planning staff and commission recommendations against solar in ag zones, and lists seven additional protections it recommends.

Opposes industrial solar on farmland, citing shrinking beef cattle production and nationally declining farmland.

District 12 resident believes in solar but says it doesn't belong on the county's best soils.

District 7 solar installer notes willing buyer/seller land rights and says low-cost solar power insulates residents from rate hikes and data-center demand.

Supported the solar zoning proposal, saying it balances renewable energy goals with protecting farmland and encourages agrivoltaics.

Chair of the Bluegrass Climate Action Team praised the ZOTA's farmland protections, including the 1% cap, and urged action on state barriers to rooftop solar like net-metering limits.

Retired urban planner urged the council to forward the solar ZOTA to the planning commission, calling it a modest first step toward local energy independence.